Iowa City, IA — American Promise, a national cross-partisan non-profit organization dedicated to winning a 28th Amendment to overturn Citizens United v. FEC and secure the political equality of all Americans, announces the first annual Congressional Leadership Award.

This year’s winners include retired Congressman Jim Leach (R-IA) who first introduced a Constitutional amendment 20 years ago in order to place reasonable limits on campaign spending and campaign contributions. After serving in Congress for 30 years, Rep. Leach continues to be a leader for the 28th Amendment to restore our democracy. He’s been an outspoken critic on Citizens United and the threat of concentrated money in our elections. Rep. Leach currently serves on American Promise’s advisory council.

"Democracy is on trial. Citizens United and related rulings are moving America in a corporatist direction. Fast taking hold is a mutually reinforcing political-ideological complex where deep- pocketed ideologues use politicians as pawns and politicians use ideologues as enablers of personal ambition. Our founders had a different vision. They crafted a Constitution that begins 'We the People' rather than 'We the Corporations'." Said Rep. Jim Leach.

Between 2014 and 2015, nine city councils in communities across Iowa passed resolutions in support of a 28th Amendment to make elections fair for all citizens.

Other winners of the Congressional Leadership Award include Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA), Congressman Walter Jones (R-NC), and Congresswoman Donna Edwards (D-MD). The awards will be presented at the first Annual National Citizen Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C.

“Each of the recipients has demonstrated courage, leadership, and civility in reaching out across partisan lines to do what’s best for the nation.” Said Jeff Clements, the President and co-founder of American Promise and the host of the National Citizen Leadership Conference. “Each knows that the nation needs and the vast majority of Americans want a 28th Amendment to the Constitution to overturn Citizens United and put people back in charge of our elections and government.”

Registration is now open for the Conference, which will be hosted at the Renaissance Washington DC Downtown Hotel from September 30 through October 2, 2016. The non-partisan, nonprofit Conference will draw hundreds of people across the country to strategize, connect, deliberate, and build power to win a 28th Amendment to overturn Citizens United so that America is governed by people, not money. Bill Moyers leads the list of participants that include Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA), Fmr. Congressman Jim Leach (R-IA), Congresswoman Donna Edwards

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Since 1776, the American people have worked to fulfill the American promise: human liberty, equal citizenship, government by the people. American Promise is a non-profit organization founded in 2016 to win the 28th Amendment that says
people - not money - govern America.